2016 Playoffs: Raps/Pacers (Drake vs.... Jared from Subway/Prison)

[Lamrock]

(2) Toronto Raptors vs. (7) Indiana Pacers

The other playoff series to be locked up today is between Toronto and Indiana. The Raptors, led by arguably the league's second best backcourt duo, are enjoying their best season ever, whereas the Pacers return to the playoffs after a one year hiatus, following an inconsistent season.

Toronto has been excellent this season, and look primed to win their first playoff series in 15 years. Indiana meanwhile has an elite defense, a star in Paul George and future hall-of-famer Monta Ellis.

Despite the disparity in seed and record, the Raps aren't a shoo-in. They have roughly the same core that have gone 3-8 in the last two postseasons, are dealing with some injuries and are facing a solid Pacers team. Having said that, I think they're too good this year to fall in the first round. Let's go Raps in 6.

Note: I googled "most famous pacers fan" and to all the Pacers fans out there, I'm so sorry.

[Andrew]

Isn't David Letterman a Pacers fan? He was born in Indianapolis, at any rate.

I'll go with the Raptors in six.

[mp3]

I just don't see Indy being able to pull out more than one win vs Toronto, Lowry has something to prove.

Raptors in 5

[NovU]

Going Raptors in 7. Mostly because the Raptors are one injury away from falling shy of Eastern Contender. Carroll, Lowry, and DeRozan all need to stay healthy at 100% to get far in this year's playoffs.

That said, Pacers are a nice team even though Ellis is still an overrated player whom you don't want to rely on too heavily. This is gonna be a fun series. X-Factor could be Myles Turner.

[NovU]

Wow. Paul George can make big shots. Seems Lowry and DeRozan can't.

[Andrew]

I'm already seeing some talk of the Raptors being chokers, and the Pacers going on to win the series. A possibility, of course, and the odds usually favour the team that wins Game 1, but that's certainly not a given. All the same, we may have underestimated the Pacers a little.

[Brave Sir Rubin]

Paul George is playing in top form. I think that the Raptors are a flawed, incomplete team who only did that well in the regular season because they're in the shitty East. Pacers usually step it up an extra notch in the playoffs. Should be a well fought Pacers in 6.

[Andrew]

In all fairness, the East was considerably better this year than they've been in a long time, with nine teams over .500 and a more favourable record against the West than usual.

[Andrew]

And so, it goes to a seventh game. Who wins? Or given the accusations lobbed at both teams, who chokes?